System for operating and controlling actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork of a vehicle, in an engine of the vehicle, and in an air intake assembly

Abstract

 The system comprises an electronic unit (4) having three connectors (5a, 5b, 5c) connected to three connectors (6a, 6b and 6c) which constitute the terminal part of a respective bundle (7a, 7b and 7c) of electric cables. A first bundle (7a) relates to cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork of the vehicle, a second bundle (7b) relates to cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the engine (2) of the vehicle and a third bundle (7c) relates to cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the air intake assembly (3). The unit (4) is carried by a body (11 or 16) of the air intake assembly (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system for operating and controlling actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork of a vehicle, in an engine of the vehicle and in an air intake assembly.

[0002] As is known, a system of the above-mentioned type comprises an electronic unit mounted in the engine compartment and to which are connected all the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the various parts of the vehicle. The unit has a male connector connected to a female connector forming the terminal part of a bundle of electric cables connecting to the above-mentioned components of the vehicle. In its run this bundle of cables divides into sub-bundles which in their turn divide in their run into cables which are then connected to the various components of the vehicle.

[0003] The system described above has a number of disadvantages.

[0004] In particular, as is known, the longer the run of the electric cables which originate from the unit, the more frequent the possibility of such cables behaving like an antenna receiving spurious signals from the outside which will interfere with the signals received from and generated by the unit itself. Furthermore, every time the bundles and sub-bundles divide they require connectors which constitute one of the weak points of the entire electrical connection system insofar as they may be subject to mechanical stresses which foster electrical disconnection. Essentially the entire electrical connection system is complicated to assemble and requires a long period of time because of the long run of electric cables which, among other things, require runs remote from sources of heat and mounting brackets and because of the large number of electrical connections to be made.

[0005] The object of the invention is to produce a system for operating and controlling actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork of a vehicle, in an engine of the vehicle and in an air intake assembly which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages and which is thus provided with an electrical connection system which is easy to operate and requires less installation time.

[0006] Further objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below.

[0007] On the basis of the invention a system for operating and controlling actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork of a vehicle, in an engine of the vehicle and in an air intake assembly is produced, characterized in that it comprises an electronic unit having a first electrical connector connected to a second electrical connector forming the terminal part of a first bundle of electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the said bodywork of the said vehicle, a third electrical connector connected to a fourth electrical connector forming the terminal part of a second bundle of electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the said engine of the said vehicle, a fifth electrical connector connected to a sixth electrical connector forming the terminal part of a third bundle of electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the said air intake assembly; the said unit being carried by a body of the said air intake assembly.

[0008] Two preferred embodiments will now be described in order to provide a better understanding of the invention, purely by way of non-exhaustive examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic and part-sectional view of a first embodiment of the system to which the invention relates; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic and part-sectional view of a second embodiment of the system to which the invention relates.

[0009] According to the illustrations in Figs. 1 and 2, in its entirety 1 denotes a system for operating and controlling actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork (not shown) of a vehicle, in an engine 2 (partially shown) of the vehicle and in an air intake assembly 3. The system 1 shown here relates to an engine in which the supply of the air/fuel mixture is of the type known as multi-point and hence to an engine in which a corresponding injector is coupled to each engine cylinder.

[0010] The system 1 comprises an electronic unit 4 having three male (female) connectors 5a, 5b and 5c capable of being coupled to three female (male) connectors 6a, 6b and 6c which constitute the terminal part of a respective bundle 7a, 7b and 7c of electric cables. The bundle 7a relates to electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices (not shown) installed in the bodywork of the vehicle such as, for example, a device for air-conditioning the interior compartment of the vehicle, a device for controlling the central locking of the vehicle's doors, a device for actuating the supply to a lighting assembly, a device for actuating a windscreen wiper assembly etc. The bundle 7b relates to electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices (not shown) installed in the engine 2 of the vehicle such as, for example, an engine stroke sensor, an engine revolutions sensor, an engine cooling device, a device for recording the composition of the exhaust gases etc.

[0011] The air intake assembly 3 comprises a first body 11 in which an air filter 12 is installed, a second body 13, a pipe 14 which puts the body 11 in communication with the body 13 and along which a motorized throttle-valved body 15 is installed, and a multiplicity of pipes 16 which originate from the body 13 and which convey the air/fuel mixture towards an inlet of a respective engine cylinder. Installed on the air intake assembly 3 are a fuel manifold 17, a multiplicity of injectors 18 (one per engine cylinder), each of which is capable of injecting fuel into a respective pipe 16, and an electrical ignition coil 21 connected in a way which is not illustrated to spark plugs 22 installed in the engine cylinders. Sensors and valves are installed along the entire air intake assembly and in particular an air temperature sensor 23 installed on the throttle-valved body 15, a throttle position sensor 24 also installed on the throttle-valved body 15, a load sensor 25 (air flowrate detection) installed on the body 13, a valve 26 installed on the body 13 and capable of defining the blow-by of the fuel vapours from the fuel manifold 17 towards the inside of the body 13, and a valve 27 installed on the throttle-valved body 15 and capable of recording the position of the throttle valve of the body 15 at idling speed.

[0012] The bundle 7c relates to electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the air intake assembly 3 and in particular connecting to the motorized throttle-valved body 15, to the injectors 18, to the electrical ignition coil 21, to the sensors 23, 24 and 25, and to the valves 26 and 27. The unit 4 is fixed to a body of the air intake assembly 3 and in particular either to an external wall of one of the pipes 16 as shown in Fig. 1 or to the body 11 as shown in Fig. 2.

[0013] In practice, after the production of the air intake assembly and the installation on it of all the above-mentioned elements, actuators, sensors and devices, the unit 4 is installed either on one of the pipes 16 or on the body 11. It is now possible to connect the connectors 5c and 6c together and to connect the cables of the bundle 7c to the above-mentioned elements, actuators, sensors and devices. Following these connections it is possible to carry out, prior to the installation of the assembly 3 on the engine 2, the testing of such elements, actuators, sensors and devices. After the above-mentioned operations the manufacturer of the assembly 3 can send that assembly 3 (in which the unit 4 and the above-mentioned elements, actuators, sensors and devices are integrated) to the car manufacturer.

[0014] At the car manufacturer's premises, after having installed the assembly 3 on the engine 2, the connections are made between the connectors 5b and 6b and the connections between the cables of the bundle 7b and the elements, actuators, sensors and devices fitted to the engine 2. Following these connections it is possible to carry out, prior to the installation of the engine 2 in the vehicle's engine compartment, the testing of these elements, actuators, sensors and devices fitted to the engine 2. Finally, after having installed the engine 2 in the engine compartment, the connections are made between the connectors 5a and 6a and the connections between the cables of the bundle 7a and the elements, actuators, sensors and devices fitted in the bodywork of the vehicle and which may also be subject to testing.

[0015] The advantages gained with the implementation of the invention will be evident from the above description.

[0016] In particular an air intake assembly 3 has been produced in which the electronic unit 4 and a multiplicity of elements, actuators, sensors and devices which can be tested prior to sending this assembly 3 to the vehicle manufacturer are integrated. Consequently, at the premises of the manufacturer of the air intake assembly 3 it is possible to optimize the elements, actuators, sensors and devices fitted to the said assembly and the materials used. It is therefore evident that with the system 1 to which the invention relates it is possible to produce an integrated assembly 3 of high quality and reliability and reduced assembly times and costs. Furthermore, with the integrated assembly 3, the operations of electrical connections and testing carried out at the vehicle manufacturer's premises are facilitated, insofar as a bundle of cables is provided for each destination (bodywork, engine and intake assembly). It should be made clear that with the system 1, the design of the runs through which the bundles of cables have to pass is simplified, runs which can be reduced and therefore be free from interference. It should also be stressed that the installation of the unit 4 on the assembly 3 permits a reduced overall space occupied.

[0017] Finally it will be clear that modifications and variants may be introduced to the system 1 described and illustrated here without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0018] In particular the assembly 3 could support other elements also connected to the unit 4 as well as those described above.

Claims

1. System for operating and controlling actuators, sensors and devices installed in the bodywork of a vehicle, in an engine (2) of the vehicle and in an air intake assembly (3), characterized in that it comprises an electronic unit (4) having a first electrical connector (5a) connected to a second electrical connector (6a) forming the terminal part of a first bundle (7a) of electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the said bodywork of the said vehicle, a third electrical connector (5b) connected to a fourth electrical connector (6b) forming the terminal part of a second bundle (7b) of electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the said engine (2) of the said vehicle, a fifth electrical connector (5c) connected to a sixth electrical connector (6c) forming the terminal part of a third bundle (7c) of electric cables connecting to the actuators, sensors and devices installed in the said air intake assembly (3); the said unit (4) being carried by a body (11 or 16) of the said air intake assembly (3).

2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said air intake assembly (3) comprises a first body (11) in which an air filter (12) is installed, a second body (13), a first pipe (14) which puts the said first body (11) in communication with the said second body (13) and along which a throttle-valved body (15) is installed, and at least one second pipe (16) which originates from the said second body (13) and which conveys the air/fuel mixture towards an inlet of an engine cylinder; the said unit (4) being installed on the said first body (11).

3. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said air intake assembly (3) comprises a first body (11) in which an air filter (12) is installed, a second body (13), a first pipe (14) which puts the said first body (11) in communication with the said second body (13) and along which a throttle-valved body (15) is installed, and at least one second pipe (16) which originates from the said second body (13) and which conveys the air/fuel mixture towards an inlet of an engine cylinder; the said unit (4) being installed on an external wall of the said second pipe (16).

4. System according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that installed on the said air intake assembly (3) are a fuel manifold (17), at least one injector (18) capable of injecting fuel into the said second pipe (16), an electrical ignition coil (21) connected to spark plugs (22) installed in the engine cylinders, a first sensor (23) for air temperature, a second sensor (24) for throttle position of the throttle-valved body (15), a third sensor (25) for load (air flowrate detection), a first valve (26) capable of defining the blow-by of the fuel vapours from the said fuel manifold (17) towards the inside of the said second body (13), and a second valve (27) capable of recording the position of the throttle valve of the said throttle-valved body (15) at idling speed; the said third bundle (7c) relating to electric cables connecting to means of motorizing the said throttle-valved body (15), to the said injector (18), to the said electrical ignition coil (21), to the said sensors (23, 24 and 25) and to the said valves (26 and 27).

Drawing